The Indian men's and women's teams qualify for the Olympics 2024 for the first time in history. As a result, India can participate in both gender team event, two singles player each & one mixed double team. After the conclusion of the World Team Championships Finals in Busan last month, the last qualifying event for the Paris Olympics, seven spots in the team events remained, which have been awarded to sides based on their rankings.
In the women's event, India, ranked 13, Poland (12), Sweden (15), and Thailand have secured their passage to Paris 2024 Olympics. "The highest-ranked teams not yet qualified in the latest World Team Ranking booked their ticket to Paris 2024," ITTF said.
Finally!!!! India qualifies for the team event at the Olympics! Something I have wanted for a long long time! This one is truly special, despite it being my fifth appearance at the Olympics! Kudos to our Women's Team who also secure a historical quota! ðð½ðð½ð®ð³ pic.twitter.com/0VhqTpFmFy
Croatia (12), India (15), and Slovenia (11) secured their spots in the men's team event. This is a huge moment in the Indian table tennis history, as it will be the first time the nation competes in the team event at the Olympics. Both the Indian teams had missed Olympic berths at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals after making pre-quarterfinals exits.
From Norman Pritchard's electrifying sprints to Leander Paes' historic tennis bronze, discover the medalists who etched Bengal's name in the Olympic history. Here's the list of all Olympic medal winners from Bengal.
Bengal, a region known for its rich culture and long history, also has a special connection to the world of sports. Many athletes from Bengal have achieved great things, with some even winning medals at the Olympic Games.
It is important to remember these champions who, over the years and through various challenges, brought Olympic glory home.
Let's explore the list of all Olympic medal winners from Bengal and revisit those glorious moments of pride.
Norman Pritchard (1900 Paris Olympics)
Olympic medalist Norman Pritchard. Image | Hindustan Times
Born in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1875, Norman Pritchard was a British-Indian athlete who holds a unique place in Olympic history as the first Asian-born athlete to win a medal. This remarkable moment arrived in the 1900 Paris Olympics, where he represented India in Athletics.
Pritchard participated in five athletics events, and clinched 2 silver medals: one in Men's 200m sprint, and another in Men's 200m hurdles.
His achievements marked history as he became the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in a single Olympic Games and also the first medalist from Bengal.
After his sporting career, he moved to the United States and became a successful actor in silent films under the name Norman Trevor.
Carlyle Tapsell representing India in 1932 Olympics. Image | Olympedia
Sport: Field Hockey
Medals Won: Gold (Men's team)
Carlyle Tapsell, born in Adra, a town of Purulia district in West Bengal, was a vital part of India's field hockey team that brought the second Gold medal home for India in Olympic history. This period, followed by the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, is recognised as the "golden age" for Indian hockey.
Tapsell was known for his defensive strength and penalty expertise. He played along with stars like Dhyan Chand to secure a historic 24-1 victory over the host nation, the USA.
This achievement cemented India's status as the world's best hockey team and made Tapsell the second Olympic champion from Bengal.
Leander Paes (left) along with other medalists in 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Image | Instagram
Sport: Tennis
Medals Won: Bronze (Men's Singles)
Born in Kolkata, Leander Paes, who hails from a family with an incredible sporting background, wrote a memorable chapter at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. His bronze in Men's Singles Tennis ended the 44-year drought for an individual Olympic medal for India.
Paes is the only athlete to win a medal in Tennis for India. He is known for his strong will and unpredictable style, often called "junk tennis," that confused many higher-ranked opponents.
Despite suffering a wrist injury in the semi-final match, he did not give up and bagged the medal in the bronze medal match against Brazil's Fernando Meligeni, winning three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-4).
His father, Vece Paes, was also an Olympic medalist, who won a bronze medal in hockey at the 1972 Munich Olympics. With Leander's win in 1996, they became the only father-son duo to have both won Olympic medals in different sports.
Top 14 fastest serves in Tennis history (ATP recognised) [2025 Updated]
As Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard broke the record for the fastest serve at Wimbledon, we bring you the list of the top 14 fastest serves in Tennis history in ATP-recognised tournaments.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard broke the record for the fastest serve at Wimbledon. Image | ATP Tour
Big-serving players have benefited throughout tennis history. One of the most advanced weaponry a tennis player may have is a powerful, well-placed first serve. While most professionals can put the ball anywhere they want, only a few are capable of reaching speeds in the upper 140s and also the 150s.
Sam Groth set a new world record for the fastesttennis servewith a speed of 263.4 km/h (163.7 mph). Regretfully, for the Australian, theATPdoes not recognise that record because it was set at a Challenger tournament.
However, we'll limit ourselves to ATP-recognised fastest serves in tennis history for the applications of this top ten.
Top 14 fastest serves in Tennis history (ATP recognised)
Without any further ado, let us dive right into the topic. Please keep in mind that only one serve per player is recorded here.
14. Juan Martin del Potro | 149.1 mph (240km/h)
Speed:240 km/h (149.1 mph)
Event:2017 Stockholm Open (ATP 250)
Round:Singles Final
Juan Martin del Potro, also known as 'The Tower of Tandil', is unsurprisingly included in the list. He is the finest Argentinian player of his generation, having won the US Open.
No one struck it in the final encounter that they won out of all the players who are in the top ten, except him.
Del Potro claimed the Stockholm Open in 2017 after defeating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets(6-4, 6-2). In the process, he did not forget to hit a 149.1 mph serve.
However, his overall performance earned him the 10th position in our list of the Top 14 fastest serves in tennis history.
Opelka has the record for the second fastest serve at any Grand Slam. Image | US Open
Speed:240.3 km/h (149.3 mph)
Event:2021 Australian Open (Grand Slam)
Round:Singles 2R
6-foot-11 American Reilly Opelka, just like other tall tennis players, has the uncanny usual big and fast serves in his arsenal. The 27-year-old is tied with Ivo Karlović for the tallest-ever ATP-ranked player ever.
Termed as the 'Next Big Thing' in tennis, Opelka achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 17 in singles in February 2022.
Though he has hit many serves over 140 mph in his career, his serve against Taylor Fritz (one of his opponents in 2015, when Opelka beat Fritz to eventually win the Junior Wimbledon) stood out. In the second round of the 2021 Australian Open, against Fritz, Opelka served at 240.3 km/h (149.3 mph), the second fastest serve in Grand Slam history.
Event:2006 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament (Rotterdam, ATP 500)
Round:Singles 1R
There was a time when Taylor Dent and Andy Roddick were thought to be the two toughest servers in the game.
Whilst Dent didn't have quite the same amount of achievement as Roddick, he certainly made it to the fourth round of a few Grand Slams.
The only player in our Top 10 who has confirmed his mobility on Clay is Taylor Dent. He reached a career-high of No. 21 despite a career marred by ailments.
In the first round of the 2010 French Open, the American hit a 240 km/h (149.1 mph) serve that stunned the crowd. This went on to become the quickest serve in the tournament's history and landed him on this list of Top 10 fastest serves in tennis history.
Event:2025 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells, ATP Masters 1000)
Round:Singles 2R
The 21-year-old tank-topped terror generated gasps with a 150mph serve at the 2024 Indian Wells.
Shelton beat fellow top prospect Jakub Mensik 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in round two. The American smacked eight aces and bombed one serve at 150 mph while advancing after exactly two hours.
This marks the first time Shelton has picked up a main-tour win over a younger opponent.
The Romanian has never made the top 50 in the world rankings, but he is executing some of his best performances. As a result of his outstanding performance, he completed 2018 as the 57th-best player in the world.
He has, however, always depended primarily on his serve, which has earned him a stellar record.
The Romanian landed the ball perfectly in the quarterfinals of the 2016 European Open, registering a speed of 244 km/h (151.6 mph). Thus, he achieved the 9th position in our list of Top 10 fastest serves in tennis history.
Feliciano Lopez, a Spanish tennis player, managed to reach a career-high ranking of 12 in 2015.
Due to being a veteran who has been around the circuit for a long time, many people seem to have forgotten how amazing a server Feliciano Lopez was during his heyday.
He delivered one of the fastest serves ever at the Aegon Championships in 2014. The Spaniard slammed the ball to serve with a pace of 244.6 km/h (152 mph) in the opening round encounter.
Joachim Johansson, the former tennis player from Sweden, was one of the known names of the early 2000s. He reached the semi-finals of the 2004 US Open and won 3 singles titles.
To reach the semi-finals of the 2004 US Open, he had defeated the defending champion Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals.
However, in 2004, another big moment came in his career, when he served at 152.0 mph in the Davis Cup doubles' first round, to enter the list of the top 14 fastest tennis serves in history.
In 2005, he had hit 51 aces against Andre Agassi in the round of 16 of the Australian Open.
6. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard | 153 mph (246.23 km/h)
Giovanni has the record for the fastest tennis serve recorded at Wimbledon and Grand Slams - Image | ATP Tour
Speed:246.23 km/h (153.0 mph)
Event:2025 Wimbledon Championships (Grand Slam)
Round:Singles 1R
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard broke the record for the fastest tennis serve in Wimbledon history when he served at 153.0 mph against Taylor Fritz in the first round of the 2025 Wimbledon.
Not only did he break the Wimbledon record, but it was the fastest second serve in tennis history. Along with that, the French tennis player broke the record for the fastest serve at any Grand Slam as well.
Interestingly, that fast serve did not help Perricard win the point, as Fritz was able to hit the ball across the net and then win the point.
Chris Guccione, the former left-handed Australian, is another tall player on this list, standing at 6'7". He was last seen playing the 2020 Australian Open in the men's doubles event, when he and his partner Matt Reid lost in the round of 16.
Guccione has a career-high doubles ranking of No. 38. However, he rose to the limelight after breaking Andy Roddick's record of fastest tennis serve, with a 154.1 mph (248 km/h) in the first round of the 2006 Davis Cup.
Andy Roddick was the best American tennis player of his generation, and at the end of 2003, he was rated No. 1 in the world.
He was known for blasting the ball and relied heavily on his serve.
Andy Roddick stood a respectable 6'2" tall among a list of giants. However, he quickly established himself as one of the top servers in the game's history and created a wonder by smashing Rusedski's world record for fastest serve in the Davis Cup semi-final against Belarus in 2004.
He launched the ball at a breakneck pace of 249.4 km/h (159 mph). It wasn't until 2006 that the record was broken.
When Milos Raonic defeated Roger Federer to win the Brisbane International in 2014, he demonstrated his whole spectrum of abilities.
In 2016, he emulated the feat in the Wimbledon semifinals. Raonic is the first player from Canada to crack the top ten. He is also one of the game's most powerful servers.
In 2012, his tremendous first serve helped him to overtake Andy Roddick at 155.3 mph in the SAP Open.
Afterwards, he reached a career-high rating of number three in the rankings, all thanks to his poised serves.
Our list of the top 10 fastest serves in tennis history can't be completed without mentioning John Isner.
He is often regarded as the sport's quickest consistent server, and his height played a significant factor in his ability to strike aces. Isner also has the record for playing the longest tennis matche in history.
John Isner has hit many serves above 150 mph during his career, but his fastest was in the 2016 Davis Cup. In a tie versus Australia, the American unleashed lightning of a serve, setting a new world record of 253 km/h.
Winning a Grand Slam title is something most tennis players dream of from the day they start swinging their racquet. Let's take a look those tennis players with most Grand Slam titles in men's tennis.
Winning a Grand Slam title is something most tennis players dream of from the day they start swinging their racquet. Despite the difficulty of winning a grand slam tournament, a select few have dominated on the biggest stage throughout the years. The past two decades, in particular, have seen certain players cement their place in history by winning a record number of grand slam titles. In 2025, the battle for those records continues, with Wimbledon taking place between June 30 and July 13.
Let's take a look those tennis players with most Grand Slam titles in men's tennis.
Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players in history. He has a record 24 men's singles Grand Slam titles. The Serbian tennis great also became the third men's player to win 100 ATP Tour titles. Djokovic is the only man to hold all four Slam singles titles at the same time since Rod Laver's 1969 calendar Grand Slam.
2. Rafael Nadal | 22 Grand Slam Titles
Rafael Nadal comes second on this list, winning 22 men’s singles Grand Slams, only behind Novak Djokovic. More than half of them came at one Slam and on one surface that the Spaniard became synonymous with: the French Open. No player has won more than Nadal’s 14 Roland-Garros titles throughout a dominant 18-year span, in which the king of clay defended his crown 10 times and recorded an unbelievable 97% win percentage.
3. Roger Federer | 20 Grand Slam Titles
Swiss great Roger Federer is one of the most decorated men's tennis stars. Federer won his first-ever grand slam title in 2003 & became the first men's singles player to reach the milestone of 20 grand slam titles and also eclipsed the record of 14 grand slams held by Pete Sampras during this quest. He has won 6 AO Open, 1 french Open, 8 Wimbledon & 5 U.S Open Titles. Federer won his last Grand Slam Title in 2018. He announced his retirement in 2022.
4. Pete Sampras | 14 Grand Slam Titles
Pete Sampras won 14 major singles titles during his career, which was an all-time record at the time of his retirement: a then-record seven Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens, and a joint Open Era record of five US Open titles. He won 64 singles titles in total. He was the first to reach world No 1.9.
Roy Emerson was a Champion whose career bridged the amateur and Open eras. The Aussie great won his 12th Grand Slam singles title at the French Open Championship against countryman Tony Roche. His haul of 28 Grand Slam titles (12 singles, 16 doubles) is a record for men's tennis. Emerson is also the only man to win singles and doubles titles in all four majors.
Unpack the performance of India in two grand sporting events in their history of participation. We bring you the accurate comparison of Commonwealth vs Olympics and India's medal ratios in them. Check them out.
The Olympic Games are the world's oldest sporting spectacle, uniting athletes globally every four years. Medals here represent the ultimate standard of international athletic excellence. In contrast, the Commonwealth Games, known as the "Friendly Games," gather athletes from Commonwealth nations. While a major multi-sport event, its scale and competitive depth differ from the Olympics.
We bring you a direct comparison of performance in Commonwealth vs Olympics and India's medal ratios, based on their historical participation.
India's Olympic medal journey
Neeraj Chopra after winning a Gold medal in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Image | NDTV
India debuted in the Olympic Games in 1900, where Norman Pritchard, a British-Indian athlete, won 2 silver medals in athletics. This victory marked the beginning of India's medal book at the grandest stage of sport.
For a significant period following this, India's Olympic identity was primarily defined by the success of Men's Hockey team. They dominated the sport, winning six consecutive goldmedals from 1928 to 1956, and adding further golds in 1964 and 1980.
India's rise in the Olympics came after the 2000s, where individual athletes proved themselves and won medals for the nation.
K. D. Jadhav (1952): Bronze in Wrestling. First individual medalist for independent India.
Leander Paes (1996): He brought the first-ever medal for India in tennis with his Bronze medal win.
Karnam Malleswari (2000): First Indian woman to win an Olympic medal (Bronze in Weightlifting)
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (2004): Silver in Shooting. India's first medal in this sport.
Vijender Singh (2008): First Indian athlete to win a medal in Boxing (Bronze).
Abhinav Bindra (2008): India's first individual Gold medalist (Sport: Shooting)
Saina Nehwal (2012): Second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. She also brought the first medal for India in Badminton with her Bronze.
Neeraj Chopra (2020/2021): Gold in Javelin throw. India's second individual gold.
Manu Bhaker (2024): Second Indian to win 2 medals (Bronze in shooting) in a single Olympic edition.
India's dominance in the Commonwealth Games
Jaspal Rana- India's most successful athlete at the Commonwealth Games. Image | X
India's debut at the Commonwealth Games (then British Empire Games) was in 1934 in London, where Rashid Anwar won the nation's first medal – a bronze in wrestling. Over the decades, India's presence has grown, cementing its status as a leading nation within the Commonwealth sporting fraternity.
Notable achivements:
Milkha Singh (Athletics): First Indian to win a Gold medal at the CWG, in 1958.
Jaspal Rama(Shooting): Most successful Indian athlete at the commonwealth games. He won 15 medals overall (9 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze)
Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis): Won 4 medals (3 gold, 1 silver) in 2022, making him India's most successful athlete at that event.
Ami Ghia and Kanwal Thakar Singh(Badminton): First Indian women to win a medal in the CWG. They won a bronze medal in women's doubles badminton in 1978.
Roopa Unnikrishnan(Shooting): First Indian woman to win a Gold medal at the CWG in 1998.
Indian flag alongside the logos of Commonwealth Games and Olympics. Image | sportzpoint
OLYMPICS: India has won 41 medals in the history of Olympic Games, which includes 10 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 21 bronze medals. India's most successful sport Olympic sport is Field Hockey (Men's team). They earned 13 medals in total.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: India has won 564 medals in the history of CWG, with 203 gold, 190 silver, and 171 bronze medals. Their most successful sport at the games is Shooting, where they won 63 gold medals, and a total of 135 medals.
Delve into India's rise at the Olympics through a historical timeline, spotlighting key turning points from the golden era of hockey to individual medals that shaped the nation's flourishing success.
India's journey in Olympic Games began in 1900, but for many decades, success was limited. The nation's presence on the medal tally was defined by mostly one or two medals per edition, with the success of the Men's Hockey teams being the main reason for it.
However, the 21st century marked a turning point, as it saw India's rise at the Olympics. Their success at the Games picked up pace in several new ways.
Check out the full article to see how India's journey transformed:
1996-2008: Individual medals emerge
Leander Paes, Karnam Malleswari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore with their Olympic Medals. Image | Sportzpoint
After years of triumph in Men's Hockey, 1996 Atlanta Olympics saw a change for India, as Leander Paes won a Bronze medal in Tennis. This victory brought in the first individual medal for India in Olympics after 44 years (previously: K.D. Jadhav won in 1952 in Wrestling).
Following this breakthrough, other individual athletes began to make their mark. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Karnam Malleswari made history with her Bronze medal win in Weightlifting, and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.
Moving to the next edition, the 2004 Athens Olympics saw another individual triumph, with a Silver medal this time. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore brought home India's first-ever medal in Shooting, laying the groundwork for India's extended talent pool beyond hockey.
In 2008, the momentum continued with Abhinav Bindra's Gold (Shooting), Vijender Singh's Bronze (Boxing), and Sushil Kumar's Bronze medal (Wrestling) in the same edition.
2012 Olympic Medalists from India. Image | sportzpoint.com
The 2012 London Olympics was a truly historic moment for India. For the first time ever, India secured six individual medals in a single Olympic edition, that too in five different sports. This was not just a jump in numbers, but a clear rise for India in the Olympic Games.
Here, take a closer look at the medalists:
Gagan Narang: Bronze Medal in Shooting
Gagan Narang won India's first medal at London 2012, taking bronze in the men's 10m Air Rifle event with a final score of 701.1. He opened the medal books for India in this historic edition.
Sushil Kumar: Silver medal in Wrestling
Sushil Kumar became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals (previously in 2008), securing silver in the men's 66kg freestyle wrestling after a hard-fought tournament.
Saina Nehwal: Bronze medal in Badminton
Saina Nehwal earned India's first-ever Olympic medal in Badminton, securing a bronze in Women's singles. With this victory, she also became the second woman, after Malleswari, to win a medal at the grandest stage.
Yogeshwar Dutt: Bronze medal in Wrestling
Yogeshwar Dutt overcame injuries and fought through brilliantly in the men's 60kg freestyle wrestling to secure a bronze medal.
Mary Kom: Bronze medal in Boxing
In the debut of women's boxing at the Olympics, Mary Kom won a bronze in the flyweight (51kg) category, making her the first Indian woman boxer to achieve this milestone.
Vijay Kumar: Silver medal in Shooting
Vijay Kumar clinched silver in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, finishing behind Cuba's Leuris Pupo.
2016-2024: Sustaining the momentum in India's modern Olympic era
India has consistently built upon its Olympic success since 2012, with athletes dominating in different categories of sports. The period from 2016 to 2024 has seen new talents emerge and solidify India's rise on the global stage.
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